Expandable reinforcing member

Abstract

An expandable reinforcing member includes a first and a second member configured to move relative to each other and defining an interior cavity therebetween. An expandable material is inside the cavity. Upon activation, the expandable material expands and causes the first and second members to move relative to each other in a manner that reinforces a hollow structural member.

1 . An reinforcing member comprising: 
 a first member and a second member configured to be moveable relative to each other, said first and second members defining a substantially enclosed inner cavity; and    an expandable material contained within said cavity, said expandable material positioned so as to cause relative movement of said first and second members upon expansion.    
   
   
       2 . The reinforcing member of  claim 1 , wherein said expandable material expands in response to the addition of an activating agent.  
   
   
       3 . The reinforcing member of  claim 2 , wherein said activating agent is heat.  
   
   
       4 . The reinforcing member of  claim 1 , wherein said expandable material expands to at least twice its original volume upon activation.  
   
   
       5 . The reinforcing member of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second members are substantially rigid.  
   
   
       6 . The reinforcing member of  claim 1 , wherein said second member is positioned substantially inside of said first member prior to expansion of said expandable material.  
   
   
       7 . The reinforcing member of  claim 1 , where said expandable material is expandable foam.  
   
   
       8 . The reinforcing member of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first member includes substantially parallel first and second outer walls and said second member includes substantially parallel first and second inner walls;    said first inner wall and said first outer wall forming a first channel therebetween, and said second inner wall and said second outer wall forming a second channel therebetween; and    a bonding material disposed in at least one of said first and second channels.    
   
   
       9 . The reinforcing member of  claim 8 , wherein said bonding material is cured by heating.  
   
   
       10 . The reinforcing member of  claim 8 , wherein said bonding material is chosen from the group of adhesives and expandable materials.  
   
   
       11 . The reinforcing member of  claim 1 , further comprising a bonding material disposed on a periphery of said first member and said second member, said bonding material configured to bond said first and second members to walls of a reinforced structural member.  
   
   
       12 . A reinforced structural member, comprising: 
 a hollow structural member having at least first and second walls;    a reinforcing member disposed inside of said hollow structural member, said reinforcing member including a first member and a second member, said second member being at least partially inside of said first member, and said first and second members together forming an interior substantially enclosed cavity; and    an expanded material disposed within and substantially filling said cavity.    
   
   
       13 . The reinforced structural member of  claim 12 , further comprising bonding material between said first and second members to maintain said first and second members fixedly positioned relative to each other.  
   
   
       14 . The reinforced structural member of  claim 12 , further comprising bonding material disposed between a periphery surface of said reinforcing member and at least said first wall of said hollow structural member.  
   
   
       15 . The reinforced structural member of  claim 12 , wherein said expanded material is a structural foam.  
   
   
       16 . A method of reinforcing a hollow structural member, comprising: 
 providing a reinforcing member having a first member and a second member, said first and second members being movable relative to each other, said first and second members defining a hollow cavity, an expandable material being disposed within said cavity; and    activating said expandable material, thereby causing said expandable material to expand, filling said cavity and generating relative movement between said first and second members until said first and second members are substantially abutting opposite walls of said hollow structural member.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of curing said expandable material.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of bonding a periphery of said reinforcing member to said hollow structural member.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of bonding said first member to said second member.